Best Blender/food Processor?

[WinterSong]

Hi everyone!

 

I recently tried making my own coconut butter by putting shredded coconut in my blender. The first time it came out amazing! The second time it was a complete disaster - the motor got too hot, leaking black stuff on my counter top; it took much longer to blend the coconut, and when it was done it had a burnt taste to it and an off color (luckily the color wasn't from the black stuff that was leaking!). I was so disappointed. It was terrible. I tried it a third time since I had an extra bag of coconut, but even adding extra liquid it kept not blending properly and overheating. I wound up with grainy, watered down coconut sludge. 

 

So I am on the lookout for a new blender that will also act as a food processor and is good for making coconut butter and almond butter. 

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on brands/models? I'm going to try to find the one I want and see if I can hold out until it goes on sale somewhere. I've heard the good ones can run up to $500! 

 

Thanks!

[moosemalibu]

If you have a Costco membership one that is worth considering is the BlendTec. I am considering getting one myself when the time strikes to splurge on myself again.

 

I have read many and great reviews for BlendTec and the Vitamix.

[LauraTX]

I recently researched a lot of blenders for a purchase and it seems usually you get what you pay for.  I have seen some mid line Ninja food prep blender/processor systems in the $150-$200 range, and I would think a blender would work better for what you are wanting to use it for.  But a blender that can also double as a food processor would probably have the oomph to blend light things for long periods.  

[Adalaide]

I've heard lots of good things about BlendTec also. I mean, if they can blend things like iPads I'm pretty sure they can blend coconut. A friend has a Ninja and she's quite happy with it, she hasn't had it long but she seems thrilled with it for the few months she has had it.

[1desperateladysaved]

I certainly don't have the miracle answer for these.  I have been trying to grind nuts into flour.  I thought the triple bladed ninja would do it well, but use my food processor instead.  I have a Cuisinart processor, they kindly replaced the bowls that disintegrated within the first year.  I really put these to the test (nut flour for 6), so perhaps someone else could succeed with them.  I can't get the nuts ground fine as I like them.

[BlessedMommy]

We absolutely love our Vitamix! Given the quality of it, we have no qualms with the $500 that we spent on it. 

 

I have made coconut butter in it before and it turned out great. 

 

Since we went through 3-4 cheaper blenders before getting the Vitamix, I was more than happy to go to something more reliable. The company is great and has great service too. When my container started leaking, they sent me a new one right away and only requested that I recycle the old one.

[BlessedMommy]

I also wanted to mention that I grind lots of gluten-free flour in my Vitamix dry container.

[notme]

who wants a vitamix?????!!!  NOTME!!  that's who

 

i am actually between blender blenders, but i'm thinking about one of those.  i have a kitchen-aid food processor, a magic bullet blender/chopper, and a mini chopper.  the kitchen-aid (you have to drag out this bowl fits into this bowl this piece, blah blah blah) works great if i am doing volume - canning, for instance.  it takes longer to wash than to do the chore lolz.  i use the bullet for making salad dressings & sauces, chopping things/pulverizing/ it WILL make butter if you zip the heavy cream one second too long haha.  the mini chop is for bread crumbs, small quantities of veggie chopping, etc.  

 

i am running out of space in the kitchen "toybox"    i really need to re-organize my kitchen!

[BlessedMommy]

The VitaMix is so worth it! Now that I have seen first hand what it can do, I consider it as indispensable to my kitchen as my stove or refrigerator and I will cheerfully fork out the $$$ for another one at whatever inflated price they're at, whenever mine dies. (but I won't have to do that for a long time, because my VitaMix has a 7 year warranty, so I'm guaranteed to have a functioning blender at least that long!)

 

The nice thing with the variable speeds is that you can do so much with them! At low speeds, you can make salsa. At high speeds (and with use of the tamper) you can make fruit ice cream. It blenders my whole grain waffle batter. It makes soymilk in 1/4 of the time as the cheaper blender. 

 

I can make sorghum flour, teff flour, rice flour, etc. etc.

[WinterSong]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I am excited to say that I have ordered my very own Blendtec, and it is now on its way to my home. Costco had a really great deal on it, and it comes with a special container specifically for making nut butters.

 

It is an investment, but I've done the math. I was going to place and order with my favorite health food company, but by ordering from nuts dot com and making my own specialty foods, I would save $75 on my first order alone. This blender will pay for itself within two or three years! Plus, I enjoy cooking, and most of my specialty foods are only one or two ingredients, so how badly can I mess that up? 

 

Thank you for your help! Excited!

[WinterSong]

Guys, my new blender is amazing! So far I've made pumpkin seed butter, chocolate-coconut butter, broccoli soup, prune extract, and I'm still going! I does take longer than they say to make nut butters, but the special jar for nut butters that came with my Blendtec is so worth it.

 

I just want to spend an entire day blending things, lol. This morning I thought that maybe I'm a little too excited about this....no, it's just that cool 

[BlessedMommy]

I totally understand your excitement! The VitaMix was one of the best kitchen investments that we've made. Since we make most of our food from scratch, having quality tools is very helpful.

[moosemalibu]

Guys, my new blender is amazing! So far I've made pumpkin seed butter, chocolate-coconut butter, broccoli soup, prune extract, and I'm still going! I does take longer than they say to make nut butters, but the special jar for nut butters that came with my Blendtec is so worth it.

 

I just want to spend an entire day blending things, lol. This morning I thought that maybe I'm a little too excited about this....no, it's just that cool 

I am so excited for you!!! I am saving up for a BlendTec myself!